Venetian blind



June 26, '1945. E N 2,379,353

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Nov. 20, 1945 f P 1 g E INVENTOR.

E BY

E M,%1%Lq.

Patented June 26, 1945 puns STATES PATENT orrlcs 6 Claims.

The invention relates to curtains or the like and it has particularrelation to Venetian blinds.

The ordinary type of'Venetian blind comprises a series of slats disposedbetween spaced pairs of fabric strips or ribbons and these strips haveinterconnecting tabs disposed under each slat. While blinds of thischaracter have been and are widely used, a common and serious objectionto them is that the fabric strips become soiled or discolored and as aresult the blind presents an unsightly appearance. It is exceedinglydifllcult to clean the strips since they are fastened to the structureand it is impossible to remove them for dry or other similar cleaning.Usually an attempt to clean them while in place leaves telltalediscoloration or marks and often the strips have a worse appearance thanthey had befor cleaning.

One object of the present invention is to provide a Venetian blindhaving an improved type of ribbon and slat supporting structure whichwill avoid the objections previously noted with respect to the fabricstrips.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Venetian blindwhich is more easily maintained in a clean condition and which has animproved appearance as compared to structures heretofore used.

Other object of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription, from the drawing to which it relate and from the claimshereinafter set forth.

' of ribbons l2, l3 and I4, are connected to the cross members l0 and IIand each of these pairs as seen in Figure 1 comprises ribbons l6 and 11.The ribbons are constructed'from thin,'flexible and preferablynon-rusting metal, such as stainless steel, and the metal should be ofsuch character as to be capable of repeated folding or collapsing in themanner shown by Figure 4, without breaking. Various typesof stainlesssteel may be used as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in theart. The metal should be extremely .thin, on the order of three or fourthousandths of an inch, for instance, since a fairly flexible ribbon isdesired and one which is not too heavy. v

The slats are indicated at l8 and each slat is supported on each pair ofribbons by a connecting element 20 which in Figure 2 comprises a bar orrod having ball shaped ends 2| and 2.2. These elements extend throughopenings in the ribbons and the opening is slightly smaller than theball shaped end so as to require some pressure in order to force the endthrough the opening. It should be readily understood that the openingmay be of such size that the ball shaped end may be sprung through theopening by pres- For a better understanding of the invention 1 referencemay be had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a window having a Venetian blindconstructed according to one form of the invention.

Figure 2is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale taken substantiallyalong the line 22* of lustrating modified types of supporting ribbons orstrips for holding the slats.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the Venetian blind illustrated maycomprise an upper cross member or similar structure I0 and a lower crosswill not be released during any ordinary use of the blind. Such openingsmay be circular or, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, at 23 and 24, theopenings may be polygonal or star shaped. In each case the element 20may be assembled with the ribbons by pressing the ball shaped endsthrough the openings.

Additional openings 25 may be provided in the ribbons at points betweenthe slats I8 so as to provide even greater flexibility at bendingpoints,

or in other words, to facilitate folding of the ribbons. In Figure 4 theblind is shown in a partly folded condition, and it will be observedthat the with the concave side next to the slats so that greaterresistance to folding toward the slats will be provided and hencefolding will occur outwardly due to the slightly greater resistance. Thebowing of the strip in this manner need the cords are raised.

only be very slight in order to'accomplish this result.

Instead of using rectangular openings 25 in Figure 3, the openings asindicated at 28 in F18- ure 7 may be hexagonal or of other polygonalform to correspond with the openings 23. This design may enhance theappearance of the structure. Similarly, as shown in Figure 8, theopenings between the slats as indicated at 29 may be star shaped. Roundopenings also might be used in place of the openings 25 in Figure 3.

The elements 20 may-be constructed of metal or other material ofsuitable character and it may be found preferable touse a plastic. Useof the latter material also is advantageous in that various colors maybe readily obtained and hence the appearance of the blind may be variedor changed by using elements that have ball shaped ends of differentcolors. metal ribbons, these normally may have a bright finish but asatin or other finish may also be obtained in stainless steel and eitherfinish greatly improves the appearance of the blind, especially if theconnecting elements and ribbons provide an attractive combination.

Figure 5 shows another form of connecting element 3| to take the placeof the element 20 and in this form fabric strips are used which haveeyes 32 at their ends with the latter provided with ball shaped elements33.

In the structure shown by Figure 6 fabric strips 35 are used forconnecting the ribbons and these are connected to fastening devices 38at their ends which have pivotal elements 31. The pivotal elements 81may be swung into alignment with the opening in the ribbon so as toallow insertion or withdrawal of the fastening device through theopening in the ribbon and then the pivotal element 31 may be swung intothe position shown. In some cases it may be found preferableto use thistype of fastener.

The usual means of tilting the slats may be used in the blind althoughthis is not shown excepting for the pull cords I9 and 40. The usualdepending loop 4| is shown also and this is used for raising the lowercross element II by :means of cords 42 extending downwardly through theslats as seen in Figure 2. Such cords are connected at their lower endsto the cross member H and when the loop ll is pulled downwardly,Ordinarily, the cords will only be used between the two end pairs I 2and ll of the-metal ribbons.

Although more than one form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

- 1. A Venetian blind comprising upper and lowor cross supportingmembers, a series of slats arranged one above the other, a pair-of thin,resiliently flexible vertically extending metal ribbons connected attheir upper and lower ends to the cross members and extending downwardlyIn connection with the at opposite sides of the slats. and meansconnecting the ribbons at each slat and extending under the slat tosupport the latter, said ribbons being foldable in accordion fashion asthe lower cross member is elevated.

2. A Venetian blind comprising upper and lower cross supporting members,a series of slats arranged one above the other, a pair of thin, flexiblevertically extending metal ribbons connected at their upper and lowerends to the cross mem-' bers and extending downwardly at opposite sidesof the slats, and means connecting the ribbons at each slat andextending under the slat to support the latter, said ribbons beingfoldable in accordion fashion as the lower cross member is elevated andhaving openings vertically intermediate the slat connecting means tofacilitate the folding action.

3. A Venetian blind comprising upper and lower cross supporting members,a series of slats arranged one above the other, a pair of thin,reresiliently flexible vertically extending metal ribbons connected attheir upper and lower ends to the cross members and extending downwardlyat opposite sides of the slats and having openings therethrough at theedges of the respective slats, and means connecting the ribbons at eachslat and extending under the slat and comprising an element having knobsat its ends proiectable through said openings by a snap action.

4. A Venetian blind comprising upper and lower cross supporting members,a series of slats arranged one above the other, a pair of thin,resiliently flexible vertically extending metal ribbons connected attheir upper and lower ends to the cross members and extending downwardlyat opposite sides of the slats and having openings therethrough at theedges of the respective slats, and means connecting the ribbons at eachslat and extending under the slat and comprising an element having ballsat its ends proiectable through said openings by a snap action.

5. A Venetian blind comprising upper and lower cross supporting members,a series of slats arranged one above the other, a pair of thin,flexible, vertically extending metal ribbons connected at their upperand lower ends to the cross members and extending downwardly at oppositesides of the slats, and means connecting the ribbons at each slat andextending under the slat to support the latter, said ribbons beingfoldable in accordion fashion as the lower cross member is elevated, andhaving weakened portions vertically intermediate the slat connectingmeans for reducing the resistance of the ribbons to "bending.

6. A Venetian blind comprising an upper cross member, a series of slats,and a pair of resiliently flexible, thin steel ribbons disposed atopposite sides of and supporting the assembled slats and adapted to foldin accordion fashion, the slats being tiltable between the ribbons andalso raisable vertically in a progressive manner beginning r with thelowermost slat.

OLLIE L. HERRON.

